Secure Act Changes Archives - 401k Plan Optimization, Compliance, Investment & Partners

Considering a New 401(k) Provider? Tips for a Successful Switch

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 6th Annual RPA Broker/Dealer Roundtable, Benchmarking & Fees (ERISA, retirement plan), Benchmarking Fees, CEO Engagement, Changing dynamics, Changing Recordkeepers, education, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, product quality, Research, Retirement Plan Advisor, Retirement Plan Advisor Due Diligence, Retirement plan provider, Secure Act Changes, Selecting & Monitoring, specialized team

Making the switch to a new 401(k) service provider has the potential to significantly improve retirement outcomes and plan performance while reducing plan costs. While...

The Case for Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, AI, Changing dynamics, Communication, Cyber Security, DC Plan Sponsors, Digital Tools, DOL, Employee engagement, evolving and adapting, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Professional Retirement Plan Fiduciary Services, Retirement Committee, Retirement Plan Fiduciary, Retirement Readiness, Retirement Savings Concern, Secure Act Changes

Remember when managing a retirement plan was simpler? Ah, the good old days. Today’s retirement plan sponsors face an increasingly complex web of ERISA requirements,...

Target Date Funds: The Key to Enhanced Retirement Outcomes

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, 403b, Benchmarking & Monitoring Fees & Partners, Collective Investment Trust, Communication, Compliance, DC Plan Sponsors, Documents & testing, DOL, ESG, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, Regs and Regulators, Secure Act Changes, Target Date Funds

Target Date Funds (TDFs) have significantly changed the Defined Contribution (DC) retirement landscape, making retirement planning simpler. TDFs allow individuals to invest in a single...

IRS Issues New Guidance for SECURE 2.0 401(k) Student Loan Match

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, benefits committee, Change, Communication, Confidence, DC Plan Sponsors, Economy, Emergency Savings, Fiduciary, Financial Advice, Financial Advisors, Financial Wellness, Financial Wellness, ira, IRA Roll overs and Roll ins, Legislation, Plan design, SECURE 2.0, Secure Act Changes, Student Loan Debt

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently issued new guidance regarding a SECURE 2.0 Act provision that aims to provide significant benefits for employees repaying...

SECURE 2.0 Expands Sponsors’ Ability to Self-Correct Retirement Plans

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Audit, Committees, Compliance, Compliance Video, Fiduciary, Legislation, Regs and Regulators, SECURE 2.0, Secure Act Changes

Retirement plan compliance is a top priority for employers. However, shifting regulations present challenges for plan sponsors when it comes to maintaining compliance and avoiding...

Financial Wellness Benefits Have Become “Table Stakes”

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefit education, benefits committee, Communication, Company Contributions and Vesting, Compensation, Convergence, debt relief, Diversity equity inclusion, DOL, Economy, Employee Benefits, Employee engagement, Employee happiness, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, Financial Advisors, financial stress management, Financial Wellness, Future Self, Health & Wellness, hiring, Inclusion, inflation concerns, investment, Job growth, Legislation, Lifestyle Benefits, millennials, multi-generational workforce, Retirement Happiness, SECURE 2.0, Secure Act Changes, student loan debt

Financial Wellness Benefits Table Stakes

Economic and market indicators appear to be stronger than anticipated. Stocks are up, unemployment is down, wages are growing faster than the rate of inflation,...

Navigating the New Landscape: How Will SECURE 2.0 Impact Plan Compliance?

By Fred Barstein / 401k audit, Audit, Compliance, Fiduciary, investment, Legislation, Prudent Expert, Regs and Regulators, SECURE 2.0, SECURE Act, Secure Act Changes

SECURE 2.0 introduced significant changes to employer-sponsored retirement plans. These changes aimed to enhance retirement savings, ensure more widespread access to workplace retirement plans, and...

Fostering Feedback: The Key to Effective Retirement Planning

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, benefits committee, Communication, DC plans, Diversity equity inclusion, DOL Guidance, Employee engagement, Employee feedback, Fiduciary, Financial Wellness, participation, Retirement Readiness, Secure Act Changes

Fred Barstein CEO/Founder TPSU with Delia, HR Representative – Des Moines In today’s workplace, fostering an environment where employees feel heard is just as crucial...

401(k) Plans Becoming More Accessible to Small Businesses

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, auto enroll, auto escalate, Auto Portability, DC Plan Sponsors, Documents & testing, DOL, Employee Benefits, Fiduciary, Financial Security, financial wellness, Ideal Plan, Improving Outcomes, SECURE 2.0, Secure Act Changes, Senior Management Engagement, small business

The retirement industry continues to evolve, creating additional opportunities for employers, especially small businesses, to help American workers create financial security for the future. Two...

Brookings: SECURE 2.0 Didn’t Go Far Enough

By Fred Barstein / 401k News, Adaptability, auto enroll, Auto Portability, benefits committee, Communication, Confidence, Consolidation, Convergence, DC Plan Sponsors, Diversity equity inclusion, Economy, Employee happiness, esg funds, Fiduciary, Fiduciary, recession, SECURE 2.0, Secure Act Changes

It’s been one year since the landmark SECURE 2.0 Act was passed into law. What’s changed, and what still needs to improve to shore up...